Electrical connection.



No. 664,|44. Patented Dec..l8, |900.

w, GERHARDT.

ELECTRICAL coNNEcTloN. (Application med sepa. 27; 1900.5 l

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GERHARDT, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,144, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed September 27, 1900. Serial No. 31,826. KNO model.)

To all whom t ,may concer-71,:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM GERHARDT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and lm proved Electrical Connection, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a conveniently-operative device for facilitating the connection or disconnection of electrical wires.

The invention is useful in all branches of the electrical art and is particularly adaptable to electrical cloth-cutting machines.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of one section. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the other section. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a section on the lineV 5 5 of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view the same as Fig. 4, except that it shows the two sections of the device in the act of connection, illustrating the manner in which the sections are held engaged.

The device is intended to furnish means for connecting in pairs the terminals of four wires. It comprises a section A and a section B, each constructed of insulating material, preferably of rubber ber. The section A is formed with an approximatelyT semicylindrical projection 7, which is adapted to fit in a corresponding cavity 8 in the section B. Two of the wires are connected with the section A by tubes9, which are of metal and in which are placed small rods l0, forming continuations of the Wires. As illustrated best in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, one of the tubes 9 is cut away for one-half of its circumference, so as to expose the rod 10 at its under side, and the other tube 9 is entirely cut away adjacent to the projection 7. Both of the rods -10 are set in grooves in the under side of the projection 7, and the rod 10, which is contained in the tube 9 that is entirely cut away, is left to stand out of contact with the projection 7. This rod is of spring material, preferably steel, and is capable of yielding toward the projection 7 until it engages therewith. The other rod l0 is held rigidly by the tube 9, in which it is contained, such tube having its unbroken portion engaged with the walls of the adjacent groove in the projection 7 of the section A. The section B has its two electrical wires in connection, respectively, with tubes 11, which pass into the section B and extend throughout the length thereof along the bottom wall of the cavity 8. The tubes ll are cut away at their outer portions within the cavity 8, and they are arranged, respectively, adjacent to the rods 10 of the section A. When the projection 7 is fitted into the cavity 8, the rods l0 are respectively engaged in the tubes 1l, and the rod l0, which is held spaced from the projection 7, is sprung into the corresponding tube 11, and by the spring action of this rod the two sections of the device are held together. This operation is illustrated best in Fig. 6. When the parts are connected as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the two wires are in connection'with each other and the electrical circuit of which they form a part is closed.

For further holding the sections together and insuring their proper operation I provide two dogs 12, which are pivoted on an eXtension 14 of the section B and arranged to work through the sides of the section B and engage with the projection 7 of the section A, th'us holding the two sections engaged. A spring 15 actuates the dogs 12 to hold them in operative position, and by pressing ones fingers against the tails of the dogs they may be moved outward to disengage the projection 7 and permit the two sections of the device to be drawn apart.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. An electrical connection, having two insulating-sections, each section havinga tube respectively in connection with the terminals of the conductors, such tubes having portions cut away, and one of the tubes having a metallic rod lying in the cut-away portion thereof to engage with the cut-away portion of the other tube.

IOO

the cavity and working through the walls thereof to engage with the projection of the other section, whereby to hold the two sections together, and electrical conductors carried in the sections and contacting with each other when the sections are engaged.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM GERI'IARDT.

Witnesses:

JNO. M. RITTER, 'ISAAC B. OWENS. 

